214 PATENT ABSTRACTS

A human IgG1 type monoclonal antibody which possesses a molecular weight in the range of 180,000+/-20,000 as measured by the method of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis performed in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate and is specific to nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. The human IgGl type monoclonal antibody men- tioned above is produced by a method which comprises fusing human cells capable of pro- ducing an antibody against nicotinic ac- etylcholine receptor with propagable human cells thereby giving rise to a hybridoma capable of producing the aforementioned human IgG1 type monoclonal antibody, selecting the hybridoma from the production of the fusion, culturing the hybridoma thereby giving rise to the aforementioned human IgG1 type mono- clonal antibody, and selecting the antibody from the cultured medium. The hybridoma mentioned above is also identified.

5192694

A N T I - P C I M O N O C L O N A L A N T I B O D Y

Hiroshi Nakao, Takao Nagoya, Yushi Saino, Montreal, assigned to Kowa Co Ltd

A monoclonal antibody specific to a human placenta-derived coagulation inhibitor is dis- closed. The antibody is produced by culturing a hybridoma which secretes it. A human placenta- derived coagulation inhibitor can be purified by using the monoclonal antibody as an immuno- adsorbent. The human placenta-derived coagulation inhibitor can be immunologlcally assayed by using the monoclonal antibodies.

called antigen presenting cells. The monoclonal antibody acts as a vector or delivery vehicle for targeting foreign antigens onto such recipient cells. This targeting facilitates subsequent anti- gen recognition by helper T-cells, which are pivotal in helping the induction of antigen- specific IgG responses.

5194370

P R O M O T E R L I G A T I O N A C T I V A T E D T R A N S C R I P T I O N A M P L I F I C A T I O N O F N U C L E I C

A C I D S E Q U E N C E S

Mark S Berninger, David M Schuster, Ayoub Rashtchian, Mississauga, assigned to Life Tech- nologies Inc

This invention discloses a scheme for producing nucleic acid end products that are functionally or exactly identical to the starting products, thereby resulting in exponential amplification of a desired nucleic acid sequence. Specifically, sequences are cycled between RNA and DNA forms using the following basic steps: (1) a T7 RNA polymerase promoter is ligated onto a single-stranded DNA template; (2) T7 RNA polymerase makes many copies of RNA: (3) a complementary DNA is made from the RNA by extension of a primer by reverse transcriptase; and (4) the RNA template is removed by ribo- nuclease H. This amplification method is useful for purposes such as genetic research and dia- gnostic assays.

5194254

E N H A N C E M E N T O F A N T I G E N I M M U N O G E N I C I T Y

Brian H Barber, George Carayannotis, Missis- sauga, Canada assigned to Connaught Laboratories Limited

A new method is described for eliciting IgG anti- body response to proteins or synthetic peptides, particularly those that are weakly immunogenic, without the requirement for the use of adjuvants, thereby making it easier and safer to confer pro- tection against pathogenic organisms. The anti- gen is coupled to a monoclonal antibody, specific for membrane determinants expressed on certain types of mammalian recipient cells,

5194371

P R O D U C T I O N O F P R A D I M I C I N A N T I B I O T I C S

Tamotsu Furumai, Masami Hatori, Masatoshi Kakushima, Chiharu Ikeda, Kyoichiro Saitoh, Seikichi Kobaru, Mississauga, assigned to Bristol-Myers Squibb Company

The present invention relates to a fermentation process for producing BMY-28960 and desx- ylosyl BMY-28960, and to a novel BMY-28960- producing organism belonging to the genus Actinomadura and designated as strain AB 1236 (ATCC 55208).